Brendan Rodgers risked an FA charge by appearing to question the impartiality of referee Lee Mason and his assistants after Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City last night.

Arsene Wenger says his team showed their title-winning credentials as they came from behind to win 3-1 at West Ham yesterday – but was counting the cost of a “serious” injury to Aaron Ramsey.

Brendan Rodgers is to ask the Premier League why “a referee from Greater Manchester” was in charge of Thursday’s fixture which ended in a controversial defeat for Liverpool at Man City.

Jose Mourinho has been repeatedly telling his team that they need to become “killers” but this was another frustrating example of their propensity to rely on a glancing blow rather than bludgeon such obviously inferior opposition into submission.

Manchester City preserved their 100% home record at the expense of Liverpool’s attempt to climb back to the top of the table, coming from a goal down to secure the points that took them past their north-west rivals to go second behind Arsenal.

Brendan Rodgers risked possible Football Association action by questioning the appointment of a Greater Manchester referee to officiate the fixture against Manchester City, in which a 2-1 defeat for his Liverpool side allowed Arsenal to regain top spot in the Premier League.

Malky Mackay, the Cardiff manager, will finally get his meeting with the club’s owner, Vincent Tan, tomorrow and will learn his fate.